Bryophyte and Sedge Inventory of Groundwater-Rich Wetlands on Umatilla National Forest

Bryophyte and Sedge Inventory of Groundwater-rich Wetlands on Umatilla National Forest

SSW across Upper Reservoir Meadow, Olive Lake area, North Fork John Day Ranger District

Rick Dewey Deschutes National Forest January 2013

Acknowledgements

This project was funded by a USFS R6 ISSSSP grant spanning FY 2012-2013. Thanks to Joan Frazee and Mark Darrach, Umatilla National Forest botanists, for supporting the project proposal, and to the latter and Rachel Chambers for very able field assistance during the first week of field work. Mark’s recommendation of survey areas, and his enthusiasm and expertise regarding the high elevation serpentine flora of the Greenhorn Mountains is also very much appreciated.

Introduction

This project is part of a series of Forest-level inventories within USFS Region 6 that are focused on better understanding the regional distribution of rare and uncommon fen-loving plants, as well as of those unusual biophysical settings that support them. Such inventories directly involving the leader of this current project have been previously conducted on several field units including the Deschutes, Ochoco, Fremont-Winema, Malheur and Gifford Pinchot National Forests. These inventories are by no means exhaustive, and typically involve several days of pre-field analysis followed by 3-4 weeks of fieldwork by 1-2 persons. Emerging understandings based on these inventories include: 1) over the relatively large geographic area where these inventories have been conducted, the floras of fens and other groundwater- fed peatlands include many shared species; 2) soils at sites persistently wetted by non-point sources of groundwater are likely to be peats, and the associated ecosystems are likely to qualify as fens; 3) fens typically do not stand alone on the landscape, but rather, are often smallish inclusions within a larger wetland system comprised of other elements such as seasonally groundwater-fed communities and predominantly surface water-fed communities; 4) with reference to vegetative structure, fens are typically meadows (herb-dominated communities where trees are either absent or are a minor component), however, shrub-dominated fens are not uncommon, and even forested fens can be found; 5) fens are spatially minor components of the landscape, and not evenly distributed among the R6 field units; 6) species commonly found in R6 fens, while conveniently referred to as "fen-loving species" or perhaps, "fen reference taxa" a) are not restricted to persistently wetted groundwater-fed peatlands and can, to varying degrees be found at sites seasonally wetted by groundwater or even at sites exclusively (apparently) seasonally wetted by surface water, and b) typically have boreal distributions, either North American or circumboreal, with southward range extensions within the Cascades-Sierra Nevada mountain corridor and to perhaps a lesser extent, southward into the Rockies.

Fens, along with bogs, are a type of peatland. Bogs are principally wetted by the collection of surface water, while fens are principally wetted by a throughput of groundwater. Fen soils are typically peats, but as defined by the USDA, fen soils must be histosols. Histosols must have an organic soil/peat layer that comprises at least 40 cm (16 inches) of the upper 80 cm of the soil profile. Within R6, the project lead has observed that plants which commonly occur on these "true" fens, also commonly occur on groundwater-fed peats or organically rich soils that do not qualify as histosols. Further, distinguishing between a histosol and an organically-rich groundwater-fed soil can be an uncertain affair during a brief field visit. Consequently, the project lead, from a botanical perspective, has taken to using the phrase "fens and fen-like ecosystems" for describing the habitats frequented by this project's target species (the term "peatland" is also used to designate ecosystems with organic soils, but this term does not distinguish between organic soils associated with fens and those associated with bogs).

The habitats of this project's target taxa appear to be strongly associated with fens occurring at high latitudes or mid-montane elevations. Of the 12 target taxa in this project, 9 are R6 sensitive species in Oregon. These 9 taxa include the mosses Calliergon trifarium, Helodium blandowii, Meesia uliginosa, Splachnum ampullaceum and Tomentypnum nitens, along with the vascular plants Carex capitata, Carex lasiocarpa var. americana, Scheuchzeria palustris ssp. americana and Utricularia minor. Of the remaining 3 taxa, 2 are mosses that have only recently been detected in Oregon. Calliergon richardsonii has received a state rank of S1 by the Oregon Biodiversity Information Center (ORBIC), while

Campylium stellatum has yet to receive a state rank. The 12th target taxon, the moss Meesia triquetra, is considered too abundant to receive a state ranking of rare or uncommon (S1 or S2) by ORBIC. As the northern portion of the Forest (most of the Pomeroy Ranger District and the northern portion of the Walla Walla Ranger District are within Washington state, Washington state Natural Heritage Program (WNHP) rankings for this project's target taxa are also relevant. Seven of the 12 target taxa have no WNHP state ranking. These taxa include Calliergon richardsonii, Calliergon trifarium, Campylium stellatum, Splachnum ampullaceum, Tomentypnum nitens, Carex lasiocarpa var. americana and Scheuchzeria palustris ssp. americana. Of the remaining 5 taxa, 4 have WNHP state rankings of S1, while Utricularia minor has a current state ranking of S2(?). At the start of this project, only 3 target taxa - Campylium stellatum, Helodium blandowii and Tomentypnum nitens - were documented on Umatilla National Forest.

Soppy, southern edge of the “10-420 rd., #2” meadow (6100’ elev.; Olive Lake area) supports much Helodium blandowii

Objectives

The intent of this study was to identify a group of sites on Umatilla National Forest that were reasonably likely to include fens or fen-like ecosystems, and could be visited and examined with preferably no more than 1-2 hours of hiking time. Examination was to include development of a list of on-site bryophytes and vascular plants, and a cursory description of vegetative structure and pattern of wetness. Soil probes would be made at many sites, especially those exhibiting

persistent groundwater-fed wetness. Soil probes are a proxy for describing soil profile via a soil pit, and allow an indirect assessment of soil profile to a depth of as much as four or more feet, depending on length of the probe and resistance of the soil. It was hoped that this examination would allow at least a tentative recognition of sites as fens or fen systems vs. some other type of meadow, shrubland or lightly forested area, and perhaps some ability to rank and/or classify within the set of tentatively identified fens.

Helodium blandowii at the “10-420 rd., #2” meadow

Methods

An initial round of site selection was conducted using a Umatilla National Forest ecoclass GIS layer. Prior experience with site selection on other forests has shown that the MW (Meadow Wet) ecoclass category is the single most useful ecoclass category in identifying fen site candidates. Forest ecoclass GIS layers may include up to several dozen mapped MW sites (polygons). Notably however, the majority of meadows mapped as MW appear to include neither fens nor fen-like ecosystems. Further, it is virtually impossible to differentiate fen and non-fen MW communities by examination of aerial imagery (indeed, the matter of using aerial imagery to differentiate meadows that include fens or fen-like ecosystems from any other type of

meadow is a very uncertain affair). Surprisingly, the Umatilla National Forest ecoclass GIS layer includes only three MW polygons, so other ecoclass types were also considered. After reviewing the full set of ecoclass categories included within the Umatilla National Forest ecoclass GIS layer, it was determined that two other categories, MM2911 (Moist Meadow - woolly sedge) and MM2916 (Moist Meadow - woodrush sedge) were the next most likely to include fens and fen-like ecosystems. The Umatilla National Forest ecoclass GIS layer includes 11 instances of the former and 33 instances of the latter. Mapped units of these three ecoclass types are almost exclusively found on the North Fork John Day and Walla Walla Ranger Districts.

Unremarkable-looking fen habitat including an apparent Umatilla National Forest rarity: the detected co-occurrence of the Cascadian fen moss trio of Tomentypnum nitens, Meesia triquetra and Hamatocaulis vernicosus; at far north end of Trout Meadows.

Another set of fen site candidates was identified using a Umatilla National Forest Soils layer. Among the soil types included within this layer, the histosol type was considered most likely to support fen ecosystems. Of the dozen or so mapped histosol polygons on Umatilla National Forest , all but one are located on the North Fork John Day Ranger District.

Known sites of target species were also considered a guide to potential candidate fen sites. Two

6 of the four documented sites of the moss Helodium blandowii (HEBL2)on Umatilla National Forest are in the immediate vicinity of Olive Lake, on the North Fork John Day Ranger District. The co-occurrence of HEBL2 and several mapped occurrences of the MM2911 and MM2916 ecoclasses provided additional rationale for field surveys in this general area. Likewise, a recent first detection of the moss Tomentypnum nitens (TONI70) on Umatilla National Forest, in Trout Meadows on the North Fork Ranger District, provided a reason to further investigate this area.

First-hand knowledge of an experienced field worker was also utilized in identifying fen candidate sites. High-elevation wetland sites in the vicinity of Vinegar Hill and Sphagnum- bearing meadows shortly north of Trout Meadows - all on North Fork John Day Ranger District - were included in this project's field surveys at the recommendation of Umatilla National Forest botanist Mark Darrach.

The convenience of proximity was also sometimes justification for identifying a fen candidate site. Several meadows were visited simply because they were very conveniently accessed from a site being visited for one or more of the reason listed above.

Rather surprisingly, use of the site selection rationales listed above resulted in selection of a set of fen candidate sites that were essentially all included on the North Fork John Day Ranger District and within the Oregon portion of the Walla Walla Ranger District. Accordingly, the Heppner and Pomeroy Ranger Districts were not visited during this project.

Field visits to promising fen candidate sites usually involved driving, parking, and some amount of cross-country hiking. Upon arrival at a site, an effort was made to identify and walk through structurally differentiable plant communities within the site. Typically, the time spent in particular communities, and at sites in general, was directly related to spatial extent of the community and the extent to which that community or site exhibited fen features. Types of information collected at a site included a plant species list, plant collections, a brief written description of site character (vegetation structure, wetness), soil probes, photographs and GPS coordinates of selected features. Field visits were deliberately scheduled for late summer in order to better distinguish between sites that are either wetted only by early season surface water, or seasonal groundwater, or both, versus sites where at least some portion(s) of the site is/are persistently wetted by non-point sources of groundwater discharge.

Results

Thirty-four fen candidate sites were visited during 14 field days in the period of 8/13/2012 to 9/14/2012. A map illustrating the distribution of these sites on Umatilla National Forest is presented in Appendix F. Sites ranged in elevation from 4700-7500 feet. Descriptions of these sites are presented in Appendix A. Among the 34 fen candidate sites, the primary rationales for site selection were as follows: high elevation wetlands = 6; MM2911 or MM2916 status within

the Olive Lake area = 6; MW status = 3; within or spatially proximate to unmapped Tomentypum nitens site = 3; Sphagnum-bearing meadows = 3; convenience of proximity = 4; meadows with soils mapped as histosols = 9. Twenty-two of these 34 fen candidate sites include sub-sites that appear likely to qualify as fens.

Of the 12 target taxa sought, only two, the mosses Helodium blandowii and Tomentypum nitens, were detected during the course of this project. HEBL2 was newly detected at 8 of the 34 fen candidate sites as was TONI70 at 3 of the 34 candidate sites. TONI70 was found at an additional candidate fen site, but this site likely includes a previously detected, but yet unmapped subpopulation first sampled during testing of a groundwater ecosystem inventory protocol in 2011. Two R6 sensitive species that were not target taxa were detected during this project.

Tomentypnum nitens at Trout Meadows

Rock sedge (Carex saxatilis) and the liverwort Lophozia gillmanii were detected in a high elevation fen in the Vinegar Hill area. A second population of rock sedge was detected in an adjacent fen. Carex saxatilis was not previously known on Umatilla National Forest. This was the second detection of Lophozia gillmanii on the Forest.

The 34 candidate fen sites can be divided among four categories based on a combination of

groundwater and sensitive species criteria (Appendix B). These categories and the number of included fen candidate sites are as follows: a) no evidence of groundwater discharge (3); b) sub- sites with seasonal groundwater discharge evident (8); c) sub-sites with persistent groundwater discharge present (13); d) sub-sites with persistent groundwater discharge and one or more sensitive species present (10).

A total of 76 plant taxa were noted among the 34 fen candidate sites visited (Appendix C). Within this group of taxa, the project lead has chosen to recognize 26 "fen reference taxa" (FRT). FRT were selected on the basis of taxa either being commonly present in sites identified as fens or fen-like ecosystems, or taxa being uncommon, but detected only in sites identified as fens or fen-like habitats. Twenty-one of these 26 taxa had been selected as FRT prior to this Umatilla National Forest project, based on work by the project lead on other R6 field units. The other five taxa were selected as a result of field experience on Umatilla National Forest during the course of this project. It seems appropriate to regard these taxa as candidate FRT to be further assessed by Umatilla National Forest staff as additional fieldwork in Forest wetlands is conducted. Presence of detected FRT among the 34 fen candidate sites is presented in Appendix D.

Mean number of FRT and mean Organic Soil Thickness per fen candidate site category is also presented in Appendix B and summarized in Table 1 below.

Fen candidate sites ranked according to numbers of FRT detected at each are presented in Appendix E.

Table 1. Mean number of fen reference taxa (FRT) and mean Organic Soil Thickness per fen candidate site category.

Mean Organic Fen Candidate Site Soil thickness Category Mean # FRT (inches) A. no evidence of groundwater discharge 0 (n = 3) 0 (n = 3) B. sub-sites with seasonal groundwater discharge evident 5.9 (n = 8) 38.9 (n = 6) C. sub-sites with persistent groundwater discharge present 6.5(n = 13) 37.1 (n = 13) D. sub-sites with persistent groundwater discharge and one or more sensitive species present 11.4 (n = 10) 41.9 (n = 10)

Discussion

Largely, observations made in the course of this project are in conformity with those generalized in the opening paragraph of this report. Some project-specific notes that seem worthy of brief discussion are as follows.

1. Selection of fen candidate sites. The paucity of mapped MW ecoclass units in the r6_uma_pnv folder, and the consequent reliance on alternate ecoclass units to form a subset of the eventual full fen candidate site set, was unexpected, at least relative to this selection process in Cascadian forests such as Deschutes and Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Review of alternate mapped ecoclass units, including 5 moist meadow types (MM), 4 wet shrublands (SW) and a quaking aspen/woolly sedge unit, led to a conclusion that those most likely to include persistent groundwater-fed ecosystems were the MM2911 (woolly sedge) and MM2916 (woodrush sedge) ecoclass units. The Umatilla National Forest PNV (Potential Natural Vegetation) GIS layer includes 11 mapped units of the former and 33 mapped units of the latter. Curiously, 91% (10) of the former units are mapped in the Olive Lake area of North Fork John Day Ranger District, while 85% (28) of the latter are mapped in this same area. Because of time/accessibility issues, only 26% (10/38) of the mapped MM2911/MM2916 units within the Olive Lake area were visited during this project. Rather surprisingly, 90% (9) of these units included (or, in one case, were immediately bordered by) one or more persistent groundwater discharge features. Within 5 of these 9 units, the persistent groundwater discharge features included the R6 sensitive moss Helodium blandowii (HEBL2).

Groundwater upwelling mound in upper Trout Meadows, main corridor 10

2. Site type and FRT #s. As part of the effort to find patterns/correlations among the fen candidate sites visited during this project, sites were initially grouped into four rather intuitive groups, based on groundwater and sensitive species criteria, as presented in Appendix B. It seemed reasonable to anticipate that numbers of FRT (fen reference taxa) detected per site would be positively correlated with extent of persistently groundwater-wetted soil per site. Although not subjected to statistical analysis, this correlation appeared to be in effect among fen candidate sites on Gifford Pinchot National Forest (Dewey, 2011). Among Umatilla National Forest fen candidate sites, this positive correlation appears to exist, but perhaps to a less pronounced degree than anticipated. The mean # FRT for the group of sites with only seasonal groundwater evident (5.7; n = 9) is only slightly less than for sites with persistent groundwater discharge features present (6.8; n = 12). Several notes may be relevant here. First, across the range of Umatilla National Forest sites visited during this project, FRT #s per site were relatively low, at least relative to the Cascadian forests. Hence, the opportunity for a pronounced difference in FRT #s seems likely to be reduced. Second, the small difference in means may reflect a feature of FRT taxa noted in this report's introduction, that the habitat amplitude of most FRT includes seasonally groundwater-wetted habitats as well as persistently groundwater-wetted habitats. Finally, in most of this project's sites that included persistently groundwater-wetted features, these features are smallish in area. In the project lead's experience, it seems generally true that habitat size/area is directly correlated with species richness. Equally, if not more notable, is the difference in mean FRT #s between the group of fen candidate sites with persistent groundwater- fed features and no sensitive species detected (6.8; n = 12, as noted above), and those sites with persistent groundwater-fed features and sensitive species present (11.4; n = 10). One possible, but purely speculative explanation, would be that a persistently groundwater-fed habitat that is "robust" enough (surface area of discharge? rate of discharge?) to support elevated numbers of FRT, is also better able to support R6 sensitive, fen-loving taxa.

3. Site type and soil organic layer thickness. There appears to be little correlation between persistence of groundwater-fed soil wetness and thickness of soil organic layer among the sites visited during this project (Appendix B). Mean thickness of organic soil layers at seasonally groundwater-fed sub-sites (38.7"; n = 7) is about the same as that at persistently groundwater-fed sub-sites (37.0"; n = 12). Thickness of soil organic layers at persistently groundwater-fed sub- sites with one or more R6 sensitive species, is in this same range (41.9"; n = 10). The small difference between the mean soil organic layer thickness of the sites with only seasonal groundwater discharge evident, and the two groups of sites that include persistently groundwater-wetted sub-sites, is unexpected; a sub-site that is only seasonally wetted by groundwater a) should have less time annually for deposition of peat and 2) oxidative loss of peat would be expected in the surface/near surface soil layers during that period of summer when this layer of soil is not saturated with water. Possible explanations for this unexpected small difference in group means for soil organic layer thickness could include either of the following: a) the sub-sites now only seasonally wetted with groundwater discharge have, until recently, had

a history of persistent groundwater discharge (i.e., the local aquifer feeding these sub-sites is recently losing volume); b) the fiberglass soil probe used in assessing soil composition is not providing accurately interpretable information at many of the fen candidate sites visited (see #4 below).

4. Soil probe process. The soil probe used by the project lead in this project and at many other fen candidate sites on other R6 forests is a 5' length of 3/8" fiberglass rod (designed to be an electric fence post). During a probe, the information the rod provides is tactile. Probing always involves a series of many short, up and down motions of the rod, slowly gaining depth over a period of less than 10 seconds to more than one minute per probe. The probe tends to pass smoothly through peat, although dry peat, or dense layers within peat (periods of decomposition?) will require extra force for penetration. Inorganic soil layers, especially those including sands and coarser particles will notably scratch at the probe during its passage. In simple peatlands, at least in the understanding of the project lead, a more or less homogeneous layer of peat has formed atop some sort of coarse inorganic base layer (pyroclastic materials, glacial outwash or till, landslide aggregates, etc.) that became persistently saturated by

West across a soppy slope-break at head of “5427 rd., #2” meadow (Granite Meadows area), and the largest population of Tomentypnum nitens currently documented on Umatilla National Forest.

groundwater flow. Probing through this type of soil allows the simple interpretation of smooth peat followed by +/- abrupt contact with coarse inorganic base layer. Measuring peat depth is a simple matter. However, and again, in the project lead’s understanding, local topography and surficial hydrology can complicate peaty soil composition at sites of persistent, non-point source groundwater discharge. It seems likely that episodic, high volume surface flows (spring rain-on- snow events, major thundershowers), especially where slopes are steep or water is channeled by local topography, can deposit alluvium over the surface of developing peatlands, particularly smaller peatlands. In peaty soils such as this, it can be very difficult to determine when peat bottom is reached, or even if the soil is predominantly a peat. Adding to the challenge of soil probe interpretation, some flattish/very low gradient wetlands have soils that are largely inorganic diatomaceous silts, which though often denser that typical peat, mimic its smoothness. Issues of these sorts caused the project lead to have some discomfort in recording organic soil layer thicknesses at 9 or more of the 29 fen candidate sites for which soil probe data is here reported (Appendix B).

5. Accuracy of mapped polygons. Hall (1998), defines a moist meadow (MM ecoclass) as one in which the water table is available to roots throughout the growing season, and a wet meadow (MW ecoclass) as one in which the soil surface is moist to wet throughout the growing season. Based on this criterion, it appears likely that the 10 MM polys visited in the Olive Lake area were appropriately identified. In varying proportions, all included portions that are seasonally wetted by surface water as well as other portions seasonally wetted by groundwater. And as noted above, nearly all had portions that are persistently wetted by groundwater discharge. In contrast, two of the 3 MW systems mapped on the Walla Walla RD appeared to be inaccurately identified. The "3719 rd., #1" site, with a mix of seasonal surface water and seasonal groundwater, seems best recognized as Meadow Moist. The mapped MW here identified as "6234 rd." seems to be wetted solely by early season surface water. The third MW, "64-151 rd.", is rather similar to the MMs visited in Olive Lake area, with a mix of early season wetting by surface water, seasonal groundwater wetting, and wetting by persistent groundwater discharge. The 9 meadows mapped as having histosol soils appear to be largely miss-identified. It appears likely that 3 of these meadows ("5415-022 rd.", "5428 rd." and "5428-050 rd.") entirely lack histosol inclusions. Soils at the other 6 meadows appear to be largely non-histosols, but with possible histosol inclusions where persistent groundwater discharge features are present.

6. Target taxa. As noted above, only 2 of the 12 target taxa in this project were detected. Eight newly documented sites of the moss Helodium blandowii (HEBL2) were added to the 4 already documented on the Forest. Notably, HEBL2 sites, new and previous, are all located in the southern portion of North Fork John Day RD, particularly in the Olive Lake area and in the vicinity of Trout Meadows. It now appears that HEBL2 is more strongly represented on Malheur and Umatilla National Forests than elsewhere within USFS R6. While a total of 73 records are currently documented on 10 R6 forests, 60% (44) of these records occur on the Malheur and Umatilla National Forests (NRIS TESP, 11/30/2012). Ninety percent (66) of the R6 HEBL2

sites occur in Oregon. In contrast, the 4 sites of Tomentypnum nitens (TONI70) now known on Umatilla National Forest along with the 10 sites currently documented on Malheur National Forest account for only 12% of 118 sites documented across 8 R6 forests. In R6, TONI70 clearly appears to be most concentrated along the eastern flank of the central and southern Oregon Cascades: 81% of documented R6 TONI70 sites occur on Deschutes and Fremont- Winema National Forests. There currently appears to be only one known TONI70 site in Washington. It's perhaps worth noting that the distinctive fen moss, Meesia triquetra (METR70), was not known on Umatilla National Forest prior to this project. It is now documented at 4 sites, where it co-occurs with TONI70 at each site. While apparently uncommon in Oregon east of the Cascades, this moss is relatively common in the fens of the crest and eastern flank of the Oregon Cascades, and lacks R6 sensitive status in the state. It is R6 sensitive in Washington (including the northern portion of Umatilla National Forest). Also perhaps worth noting, the co-occurrence of the 3 mosses TONI70, METR70, and the "brown moss" Hamatocaulis vernicosus, which the project lead has come to recognize as an indicator of especially biodiverse Oregon Cascadian fens, was detected at two closely proximate fens included in this project ("upper Trout Meadows, main corridor" and "Meadow Creek east #2").

South across the “3719 rd., #2” meadow (Langdon Lake area), undoubtedly the most physically robust fen encountered during this project.

7. “Robust” fen and fen-like ecosystems. For management, monitoring, or just general awareness purposes, it seems desirable to have some means of ranking the various fen candidate sites visited during this project as fen or fen-like ecosystems. Presumably, the criteria for ranking would be determined by the purpose(s) of the ranking. One system of ranking, that might be regarded as reflecting the general “robustness” of the site as a fen or fen-like ecosystem, would simply employ the number of fen reference taxa (FRT) detected per site. Such a ranking is presented in Appendix E. Arbitrarily choosing a FRT value of >/= 10 results in selection of a group of 10 sites. Not surprisingly (see Table 1 or Appendix B), 90% (9) of these sites include persistently groundwater-wetted sub-sites, with 7 of these 9 sites including one or both of the R6 sensitive mosses HEBL2 and TONI70. Seven of these 10 sites (Appendix B) included sub-sites where soil organic layers were interpreted to be 52” or more thick. With some defensibility then, these sites might be regarded as the most physically and biologically robust sites visited in the course of this project. On the other end of the spectrum, arbitrarily setting FRT at

8. Field recognition of fens. Efforts at fen recognition in the field sometimes result in an uncertain assessment, and generally requires bringing multiple lines of evidence, especially soil moisture, soil composition and vegetation, to bear. Many fen candidate sites have wet soil in the spring and early summer due to direct, on-site wetting by rain and snow melt and/or due to surface transport and delivery of rain and melt-waters by laminar or channeled flow . Hence, it is helpful to assess site wetness in late summer, when soil wetness is likely due only to proximity to perennial streams and lakes, or to groundwater. Many meadows have wet or damp soil in late spring and early summer; relatively few, wholly or in part, have wet soil in late summer. Evidence of a relatively thick (12-48+”) organic soil/peat under your feet suggests presence of a fen or fen-like ecosystem. While mineral soils may be found in wetland complexes that include fens and fen-like ecosystems, they are not observed within fen and fen-like ecosystems themselves. Vegetation can be an important guide in recognition of fens. As noted

in the Introduction, fens may be dominated by shrubs, or even trees, but most commonly the dominant vegetation is herbaceous and the community structure is that of a meadow. Fens visited during this project are predominantly meadows, sometimes with minor shrubby or forested inclusions. Further, as noted below, presence of a plant community featuring short- statured structure and a composition that includes numerous fen reference taxa, is strongly indicative of a fen or fen-like ecosystem.

9. Short-statured fen communities. It should be noted that at least two basic vegetative structures of fen meadows appear to exist: “tall sedge” and “low-statured” structures. The plant community associated with the former is often dominated by the sedge CAAQ, but often includes CAUT, other sedges, and may include grasses such as CACA4 and DECE. There typically is little forb or moss component of this community and species diversity is low. Actual stature of this community may range from 18-36+”. “Tall sedge” is the most common meadow fen community observed at mid-elevations during this project. The short-statured meadow fen community typically features a species-diverse assemblage of low-statured forbs, graminoids and

Competition for space at the “3719 rd., #2” fen meadow

mosses. Mosses can account for the majority of biomass within these communities. Shrubs, such as SAEA/SACO2, may be present within these communities, but they are always low- statured as well, even if capable of greater height in other habitats. This is the specific fen community in which most fen-loving R6 sensitive plant taxa, including most of the target taxa in this project, are likely to be found. Notably, this is the type of fen community upon which the fen reference taxon (FRT) list is based. Accordingly, this project’s fen candidate sites with the highest FRT #s (Appendix E), likely include significant amounts of this community.

10. Fen reference taxa. In the course of visiting numerous fens and fen-like ecosystems within and near portions of the Oregon and Washington Cascades, the project lead noticed that certain species of plants were consistently present within short-statured fen communities (SSFC - see Discussion item #9), but much less frequently observed in other types of fen and non-fen wetland communities. As early on, the term "indicator" seemed a bit presumptive, the project lead chose to identify this group of species as "fen reference taxa" (FRT). Because of the observed strong association of fen-loving R6 sensitive plant species with SSFCs, it became apparent that FRT #s at a particular site might be a predictor of site potential for R6 sensitive, or other rare or uncommon plant species. Additionally, FRT #s can provide another metric for the characterization and comparison of fens and fen-like ecosystems. The project lead's Cascadian working list of FRT taxa includes about 35 taxa. About 15 of these taxa were not detected during this project's fieldwork on Umatilla National Forest and hence, were not included on the working list of Umatilla National Forest FRT used in this report. Failure to detect a significant fraction of the Cascadian-based FRT on Umatilla National Forest is not especially surprising. Review of the Oregon distributions of these “missing” taxa (NRCS Plants Database; Oregon Flora Project Atlas) indicates that most of these species are either not known in Oregon east of the Cascades or are only sparsely distributed in this area (Table 2, below). Belated reference to the Umatilla National Forest Vascular Plants Species List (see References) informs us that 4 of the taxa included in Table 2 are documented on the Forest, but were simply not detected during this project.

Table 2. Distribution pattern of fen reference taxa not detected on Umatilla National Forest during the course of this project. - Note: asterisk denotes taxon documented on the Forest according to the Umatilla National Forest Vascular Plants Species List.

Scheuchzeria palustris ssp. americana, 1) Cascadian Utricularia minor 2) Cascadian and Drosera rotundifolia, Triantha glutinosa, Coastal Vaccinium ovalifolium 3) Primarily Cascadian, Carex capitata*, Carex limosa*, Drosera but with scattered sites anglica, Menyanthes trifoliata*, Utricularia elsewhere in state minor*, Vaccinium uliginosum

11. Hydrogeomorphic types. Weixelman et al. (2011) recognize three basic hydrogeomorphic types of meadow peatlands in the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade ranges of California: basin, mound and slope. No basin peatlands were observed during the course of this project. Mound peatlands, which by nature tend to be small and isolated, were detected at several sites, including in the main corridor of upper Trout Meadows, where a particularly robust mound supported both TONI70 and HEBL2. As is true in the Sierra Nevada, slope peatlands were the most commonly observed peatland type within the project area. In particular, this statement is referencing the one to several persistently groundwater-wetted sub-sites occurring within each of this project's category C and D sites (persistent groundwater discharge evident). Nearly all the slope peatlands observed in this project are toeslope peatlands, situated at slopebreaks typically at the interface of forested upland and meadow. Relatively few hillslope peatlands were observed, and these were mostly associated with the project's higher elevations and steeper slopes.

12. High elevation sites. The several persistently groundwater-wetted sites visited in the Vinegar Hill area (7200-7500’), and the “10-426 rd.” wetland (6900’) in the Olive Lake area, are well above the elevations of groundwater sites typically visited by the project lead. Several observations seem notable. The systems are reasonably biodiverse, with two having 10 detections of FRT each. In spite of a presence of apparently suitable habitat, neither of the R6 sensitive mosses HEBL2 or TONI70 was detected. It seems likely that these elevations are simply above the “comfort zone” of these two mosses, but it also seems possible that slope and soil factors might be involved as well. Most of these sites have steeper relief than is typical of mid-elevation fens (Kovalchik and Clausnitzer (2004) also noted that fens and meadows at upper elevations in eastern Washington are often found on steeper gradients). Also, the soil probe frequently indicated the presence of a fine-grained inorganic component to an otherwise evident organic soil layer. Analysis of the composition of these high-elevation peat-like soils would be very useful.

13. Grazing impacts. Physical, biological, and likely, chemical impacts associated with cattle grazing, are highly evident in the fen and fen-like ecosystems of most “eastside” Oregon forests visited prior to this project. Such impacts were not noted in visiting fen candidate sites in the vicinities of Vinegar Hill, Olive Lake and Trout Meadows during this project. Within the upper Trout Meadows area, several fen sites with R6 sensitive species had patches soil made bare by ungulate hooves, but apparently by elk, not cattle. Impacts due to cattle grazing are evident in the “histosol” meadows in the vicinity of Granite Meadows in the northern part of the North Fork John Day RD. Intense post-holing and pedestal formation was observed in the persistently groundwater-wetted soils of “5427 rd., #1”. Likewise, impacts of cattle are evident in the immediately adjacent “5427 rd., #2”, which currently includes far and away the single largest population of the R6 sensitive moss TONI70 currently documented on Umatilla National Forest. The wet seepage area occupied by the most of the TONI70 population at this site appears to be

only lightly grazed by cattle, with bare soil due to hooves <5%. Hoof impacts along the upper portion of the east-most creeklet draining the seepage slope (also occupied by TONI70) are much more pronounced. At the northern extent of the project area, the remarkable “3719 rd., #2” fen, and the large, complex “64-151 rd.” wetland, appear to be not grazed.

14. Follow-up field work. Soils analysis at the “likely” fen sites identified in this project would be most welcomed. How many of these sites include actual histosols, and hence, technically qualify as fens? This would be particularly useful at the high elevation sites and at those in Category B (only seasonal groundwater discharge evident), most of which have unexpectedly thick (apparent) organic soil layers. Biologically, whether a “robust”, non-spring, groundwater ecosystem is technically a fen or “just” a “fen-like” ecosystem, may not be significant. On the other hand, the distinction might help us understand differences in botanical composition that are evident among these various sites. Additionally, it would be potentially very interesting and useful, to re-approach selection, and visitation, of a set of fen-candidate sites for the Forest, especially for the Heppner, Pomeroy and northern portion of the Walla Walla Ranger Districts.

Mark Darrach, Joan Frazee and Rachel Chambers having a working lunch at Albee Meadow.

Based on the pre-field analysis conducted for the project, it appears likely that these portions of Umatilla National Forest support a markedly lower density of persistently wetted, groundwater- fed peatlands than the southern portion of the Forest. It would be useful to have a better sense of whether this apparent density differential is real, and if so, what factors might contribute to it. Basically, this would simply represent a continuing effort to inventory Umatilla National Forest fen and fen-like ecosystems with the objective, among others, of assessing habitat condition and the appropriateness of current management practices. The belated awareness that 4 of the fen reference taxa not detected during this project are documented on Umatilla National Forest (reference) reinforces the potential value of a continuing commitment to fen inventory on the Forest. This would include identifying and visiting the original collection sites of METR3 (North Fork John Day RD), CALI7 Walla Walla RD) and, perhaps especially, UTMI and CACA13 (Pomeroy RD). Continuing fen inventory efforts on the Forest would also permit continued refinement of the Forest fen reference taxa list. “Established” FRT, candidate taxa proposed in this report (e.g., Parnassia fimbriata and Saxifraga odontoloma) and some not proposed (Carex saxatilis, Swerta perennis, others?) could be subject to ongoing evaluation.

15. Further orientation. Good papers addressing the ecology of fens and fen-like ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada, Rocky Mountains, Canada and Europe are relatively accessible on the internet. USDA-Forest Service had published in 2012 a compact 191 pp. document entitled “Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems: Level I Inventory Field Guide” which is recommended to anyone interested in fen ecology, inventory, monitoring or condition assessment. Pages 8-14 provide a good introduction to groundwater ecosystems.

References

Dewey, Rick. 2011. Detection and Bryological Inventory of Rich Fens on Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Unpublished Forest Service report.

Hall, Frederick. 1998. Pacific Northwest Ecoclass Codes for Seral and Potential Natural Communities. USDA-FS General Technical Report, PNW-GTR-418, April 1998.

Kovalchik, Bernard and Rodrick Clausnitzer. 2004. Classification and Management of Aquatic, Riparian, and Wetland Sites on the National Forests of Eastern Washington: Series Description. USDA-FS PNW Research Station General Technical Report, PNW-GTR-593, September 2004.

Umatilla National Forest, Vascular Plant Species List at

USDA-FS. 2012. Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems: Level I Inventory and Field Guide. Gen. Tech. Report WO-86a, March 2012.

USDA, NRCS. 2013. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 21 February 2013). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

Weixelman, Dave, Barry Hill, David Cooper, Eric Berlow, Joshua Viers, Sabra Purdy, Amy Merrill, Shana Gross. 2011. Meadow Hydrogeomorphic Types for the Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade Ranges in California. USDA R5-TP-034, December 2011.

Appendix A

Site descriptions for Umatilla National Forest sedge/bryophyte inventory. The codes are symbols as defined by the National PLANTS database (USDA, NRCS 2013). Codes of R6 sensitive taxa in bold.

North Fork John Day Ranger District

1. Vinegar Hill area, 10S, 34E, S3, #1 Elevation: 7450 feet TRS: T10S, R34E, S3 Date: 8/13/2012 Rationale: High elevation wetland. Plants: Graminoids - CALU7, CASCB, JUNCU, DECE, MUFI, PHLEU Forbs – ALVA, GENTI, ASTER, SPRO, MIPR, VERAT, PEGR2, DODEC, POBI6, POTEN, EPILO, DELPH Bryophytes – AUPA70, PHFO6 Probes: Difficult penetration. Notes: This is a gently sloping, seasonally wet meadow with soil surface dry in the upper, eastern portion, and becoming increasingly moist toward the western end, where kneeling resulted in wet trouser knees. Soil apparently has a high organic content. Photos: #305

2. Vinegar Hill area, 10S, 34E, S3, #2 Elevation: 7500 feet TRS: T10S, R34E, S3 Date: 8/13/2012 Rationale: High elevation wetland. Plants: Graminoids - ELQU2, CASCB Forbs - PEGR2, DODEC, RAAL, POBI6, MIPR, ALVA, SAOD2, EQAR, SETR Shrubs - SAEA/SACO2, PHEM Bryophytes - PHFO6, AUPA70, BRPS70, WAEX Probes: Higher values of depth of apparently organic soil in upper southern portion of meadow range from 35-52+". In lower, northern portion, depth to first evident inorganic soil = 32-34". Notes: This appears to be a persistently wet, groundwater-fed meadow, most of which would qualify based on soils and hydrology as a fen. Meadow exhibits a notable topographic gradient, with much of the upper southern end being soppy wet, with wetness decreasing toward lower, northern end. This meadow has a high cover of CAREX and PHFO6. Seems likely that much of this meadow would key to an ELQU2 plant association (Kovalchik). Photos: #s 306, 307

3. Vinegar Hill area, 10S, 34E, S2, #1 Elevation: 7500 feet TRS: T10S, R34E, S2 Date: 8/14/2012 Rationale: High elevation wetland. Plants: Graminoids - AGROS2, ELQU2, JUEN, CASA10 Forbs - ALVA, SAOD2, PEGR2, SPRO, MIPR, DOJE, HYAN2, POBI6, PLATA2, BOTRY Shrubs - SAEA/SACO2 Bryophytes - PHFO6, WAEX, MAPO16, POWA70, BRPS70, AUPA70, SCAPA, CALYP6, RHIZO2, LOPHO9, PELLI, BRWE70 Probes: Central portion of upper terrace with thickness of organic or organic/inorganic mix of up to 36" over a firm inorganic base; organic layer to 24" along southern edge of terrace. Organic layer along upper NW/W edge of main body of meadow mostly 26-34" thick; shortly below this edge, on soppy, lower gradient slope, apparent organic layer to 52+". Notes: Significant portions of this meadow appear to be persistently wetted by discharging groundwater, and based on soils and hydrology, would qualify as fen. Upper (north) end of system a very soppy-wet terrace with standing water. Terrace separated from main body of meadow by short steep slope with mature PIEN. Terrace with thick mats of emergent WAEX. Main body of meadow sloping downward from north to south, and cross-wise from west to east. Principal groundwater discharge zone along upper NW and W edges of meadow, with dominance by PHFO6 with AUPA70 on the microtopographic rises and emergent DREPA3 present in shallow standing water. Photos: #s 308-311

4. Vinegar Hill area, 10S, 34E, S2, #2 Elevation: 7300 feet TRS: T10S, R34E, S2 Date: 8/14/2012 Rationale: High elevation wetland. Plants: Graminoids - JUNCU, AGRO2, ELQU2, CASA10 Forbs - ALVA, EQAR, MIPR, ASTER, SETR, EPILO, SAOD2, PEGR2, PLST4, DOJE Shrubs - SAEA/SACO2 Bryophytes - PHFO6, MAPO16, RHIZO2, BRWE70, BRFR70, CHPO14, BRPS70, AUPA70, PACO47, LOGI3 Probes: Maximum thickness of organic layer found in upper, wetter, SW where first obvious inorganic layer detected at 35"; organic layer, however, appears to be infused with a minor fine-grained inorganic component. Organic layer in lower 1/3 of meadow is about 24" thick, but again, appears to be infused with minor amounts of fine-grained inorganics. Steepness of meadow slope and of adjacent uplands with much rock and mineral soil suggests periodic flushing of mineral sediments onto meadow surface likely to occur. Notes: Significant portions of this meadow appear to be persistently wetted by discharging groundwater, and based on soils and hydrology, would qualify as fen. Meadow with notable slope, with principal groundwater discharge zone and wettest soil in the upper SW end, with soil moisture level decreasing toward lower, NE end.

5. Vinegar Hill area, 10S, 35E, S7 (upper Salmon Creek) Elevation: 7200-7300 feet TRS: T10S, R35E, S7 Date: 8/15/2012 Rationale: High elevation serpentine wetlands. Plants: Graminoids - ELQU2, JUME3, CAAQ, CALU7, JUEN Forbs - PEGR2, ALVA, VIOLA, PAFI3, DELPH, JUEN, MIPR, HYAN2, ASTER, DOJE, PLST4, SWPE Shrubs - BEGL Bryophytes - PHFO6, BRPS70, BRWE70, RHIZO2, AUPA70, PACO47 Probes: Thickness of evident organic layers (with intermixed fine-grained inorganic materials) ranging from 12-28". Notes: Information above is compiled from visits to three relatively closely adjacent groundwater discharge fields within a generally steep-sloped local landscape featuring various levels of groundwater influence. Based on soils and hydrology, portions of these fields would qualify as fens.

6. Upper East Fork Clear Creek Elevation: 7300 feet TRS: T10S, R34E, S12/T10S, R35E, S7 Date: 8/15/2012 Rationale: Visible during hike to upper Salmon Creek, +/- easily accessible, worth checking. Plants: Forbs – ALVA, PEGR2, SAOD2, EQAR, PAFI3, SWPE Bryophytes – MAPO16, PHFO6, PACO47 Probes: Evident inorganic soil generally contacted at 6” or less; above this, soil apparently an organic/inorganic mix. Notes: Plant and Probe information above applies only to the eastern-most of the three sites visited. Only this site is persistently wetted by groundwater. The other two sites are seasonally wet meadows with dry/moist soils at the time of visit.

7. Olive Lake area, 10-302 rd. Elevation: 5800 feet TRS: T9S, R34E, S9/10 Date: 8/16/2012 Rationale: Mapped as Ecoclass MM2916 (Carex luzulina - woodrush sedge). Plants: Graminoids - CAAQ, CALU7, AGROS2, ELQU2, DECE, JUEN, CAUT, JUBA, CAPE42 Forbs - PEGR2, POOC2, ASFO, HYAN2, DOJE, ALVA, Bryophytes - PHFO6, AUPA70, BRPS70, MAPO16, DRAD2, HEBL2 Probes: At HEBL2 site along western toeslope, apparent organic layer to 47". At southern end of main meadow, at groundwater-dampened site, apparent organic layer 16-31" in depth. Notes: Main body of this system is a seasonally wet meadow, where at time of visit, strongest groundwater expression was in in SE corner where soil was simply damp. Primary expression of groundwater discharge in system is in areas along toeslope at far western edge of system, separated from main meadow by 50-100 meters of PIEN-PICO woods. Soil, hydrology and botanical composition suggest that these areas would qualify as fens. The largest of these areas exhibits the classic convex

24 topography often associated with toeslope/slopebreak groundwater discharge. Photos: #317

8. Olive Lake area, 10 rd. Elevation: 6000 feet TRS: T9S, R34E, S10/11 Date: 8/16/2012 Rationale: Easily accessible; aerial imagery similar to adjacent meadows mapped as Ecoclass MM2911 or MM2916. Plants: Graminoids - ELQU2, CAAQ, CAPE42 Forbs - PLDI3, SETR, DODEC, EPILO Bryophytes - RHIZO2, BRPS70, AUPA70 Probes: Deepest organic layer = 20", but may include fine-grained inorganics. Notes: This is a seasonally wet meadow. Strongest groundwater expression is in SW corner where soil was simply damp.

9. Olive Lake area, 10-500 rd. Elevation: 5800 feet TRS: T9S, R34E, S11/12/13/14 Date: 8/16/2012 Rationale: Easily accessible; aerial imagery similar to adjacent meadows mapped as Ecoclass MM2911 or MM2916. Plants: Graminoids - CAEC, CAAQ, ELQU, CALU7, Forbs - HYAN2, EQAR, PEGR2, ASFO, DOJE, ALVA, POOC2, PLATA2 Bryophytes - AUPA70, RHIZO2, BRPS70, PHFO6 Probes: Conducted only in most strongly groundwater influenced portion of meadow on east side of 10- 500 rd. Soil very dense and highly resistant to penetration. One probe detected first obvious inorganic layer at 35", but the strenuous "jitterbugging" of probe to attain this depth made it all but impossible to assess extent of possible inorganic component in otherwise apparently organic layer. Numerous other closely adjacent probes were stopped due to resistance at about 12". Notes: Wetland on west side of 10-500 rd. could be regarded as a seasonally wet, lightly wooded meadow with very topographic relief. It includes very local pockets of groundwater-wetted soil, wet enough to wet a trouser knee. The larger, open meadow to the east side of the 10-500 rd. is nearly entirely a seasonally wet meadow, The upper, wooded, SE edge of this meadow, adjacent to the 10-520 rd. (where soil probes were conducted) includes small, local areas capable of readily wetting a trouser knee.

10. Olive Lake area, 10-520 rd. Elevation: 5400 feet TRS: T9S, R34E, S2/1 Date: 8/16/2012 Rationale: Moderately easily accessible; aerial imagery similar to adjacent meadows mapped as Ecoclass MM2911 or MM2916; large enough to offer the potential of a notable range of hydrologic environments. Plants: Graminoids - CAAQ, JUEN, JUBA, CALU7, CAEC, PHLEU

Forbs - POOC2, HYAN2, SPRO, EQAR, DODEC, PLATA2 Bryophytes - RHIZO2, MAPO16, AUPA70, DRAD2, HEBL2 Probes: Depth of very dense, resistant, apparently organic layer along western edge ranging from 12-20". At HEBL2 site in NE corner of meadow, apparent organic layer 30" thick. Notes: This appears to be almost entirely a seasonally wet meadow which slopes gently downward towards its NE corner. Soppy soil associated with groundwater discharge found only very locally in NE corner of system. A small population of HEBL2 was detected at this site, which likely qualifies as a very small fen.

11. Olive Lake area, 10-426 rd. Elevation: 6900 feet TRS: T9S, R34E, S20/21 Date: 8/17/2012 Rationale: Mapped as Ecoclass MM2916 (Carex luzulina - woodrush sedge). Plants: Graminoids - JUBA, CAAQ, DECE, PHLEU, HOBR2, JUEN, ELQU2, CALU7 Forbs - ALVA, TRIFO, SPRO, EPILO, HYAN2, ASFO, PEGR2, PLATA2, DELPH, SAOD2, MIPR, PAFI3 Bryophytes - PHFO6, BRPS70, BRWE70, MAPO16, AUPA70, HYOC5 Probes: Only damp spot in entire N-most meadow occupied by dense CAAQ-dominated community; probe here reaches first evident inorganic layer at 12". Multiple probes in marginally discrete seepage areas just outside mapped southern border of S-most meadow detected first evident inorganic layer at depths of 24-36". Notes: N-most of two adjacent wetlands mapped as MM2916 appears to be almost entirely a seasonally wet meadow. Only currently damp soil is in lower, NE corner of meadow and is occupied by dense stand of CAAQ. Nearly all of the S-most wetland mapped as MM2916 appears to be seasonally wet meadow. However immediately S of this S-most mapped MM2916 wetland are a series of 5+, marginally discrete seepage zones that occur on a generally steep slope. Based on hydrology, soils, and botanical composition, these seepage areas are likely to qualify as fens. Photos: #s 320-336.

12. Olive Lake area, 10-420 rd., #1 Elevation: 6200 feet TRS: T9S, R34E, S16 Date: 8/17/2012 Rationale: Mapped as Ecoclass MM2916 (Carex luzulina - woodrush sedge). Plants: Graminoids - ELQU2, CALU7, CAAQ, JUEN Forbs - VERAT, PEGR2, DOJE Bryophytes - PHFO6, AUPA70, BRPS70 Probes: Two probes at soppy sites along upper SW edge of meadow appeared to pass through a blended organic/inorganic soil to a firm base at 27". Notes: Much of wetland appears to be a seasonally wet meadow, however the toeslope along the SW edge of the meadow, which is moist/damp on its western edge, becomes increasingly wetted by groundwater discharge to about halfway toward the SE corner of the meadow. This toeslope area is likely to qualify as fen. Toeslope groundwater discharge becomes less evident along this lower portion of SW

26 meadow edge, as the adjacent meadow becomes increasingly wetter, with much of the SE corner of the meadow covered by shallow water slowly moving to the SE before draining to the N along the E edge of the meadow.

13. Olive Lake area, 10-420 rd., #2 Elevation: 6100 feet TRS: T9S, R34E, S15 Date: 8/17/2012 Rationale: Mapped as Ecoclass MM2916 (Carex luzulina - woodrush sedge). Plants: Graminoids - ELQU2, CAAQ, CALU7, JUEN, PHLEU Forbs - EQAR, SETR, PAFI3, PEGR2, DOJE, SAOD2 Bryophytes - PHFO6, AUPA70, DRAD2, MAPO16, SPHAG2, CAGI70, HEBL2 Probes: Thickness of organic layer on toeslope/meadow edge along S edge of meadow ranged from 25- 52+"; organic layer up to 34" thick in middle of E 1/3 of meadow and up to 52+" in middle of W 1/3 meadow. Notes: This meadow has abundant, persistent groundwater discharge along the W 1/2 of its southern edge. This is the location of the HEBL2 and SPHAG2 detected in this wetland. The E edge of these HEBL2 and SPHAG2 populations occurs on classic convex topography associated with persistent groundwater discharge. The forested slope on the N edge of the meadow does not appear to contribute significant amount of groundwater to this meadow. The main body of this meadow is soppy-wet CAAQ- ELQU2 community. The source of wetness for the main body of this meadow is not obvious. Hydrology, soils and botanical composition indicate that much of this mid-sized meadow is likely to qualify as fen. A curiosity: two large, deep, abruptly formed draws (now dry) converge at the W edge of the meadow. The morphology of these draws suggests periodic, high-volume flows. In question is the schedule of these flows and source of the water. Photos: #s 339-344

14. Olive Lake area, 10-481 rd.(Lost Creek) Elevation: 6200 feet TRS: T9S, R34E, S23 Date: 8/27/2012 Rationale: Two relatively adjacent wetlands mapped as Ecoclasses MM2916 (Carex luzulina - woodrush sedge) and MM2911 (Carex pellita - woolly sedge). Plants: Graminoids - BROMU, CAREX, JUNCU, PHLEU, JUEN, CAAQ, ELQU2, CALU7, MUFI2, HOBR2, DECE Forbs - SANGU2, ASFO, PEGR2, SETR, POOC2, EQAR, ARNIC, CACA4, DODEC, HYAN2, PLATA2, EPILO, DELPH, ALVA, SAOD2, Shrubs - SAEA/SACO2 Bryophytes - PHFO6, BRPS70, BRWE70, MAPO16, AUPA70, DIPA20, PLEL2, DRAD2, HEBL2 Probes: Probes, outside of the three probable fens detected within the two meadow systems, found first coarse inorganic layer as deep as 30", but soil above this appears to be organic with an intermixed inorganic component. Each of the three fens included specific sites where peat depth exceeded 52+". Notes: Each of the two wetland systems visited, the larger, lower, northern wetland with N and S lobes

(mapped MM2911), and the smaller, upper, southern wetland (mapped MM2916), appear to be largely seasonally wet meadows. However, the southern lobe of northern wetland includes an area of persistent groundwater discharge along its upper western edge, with soppy wet peat whose depth occasionally exceeded that of the 52" probe. The southern wetland includes two areas of persistent groundwater discharge. Each of these areas is characterized by soppy wet peat whose depth occasionally exceeded the reach of the 52" probe. One of these areas occurs along the upper western edge of the wetland, where it includes both sloping open meadow and seepage zones with light cover of PIEN and PICO. HEBL2 exists within this area. The second area exists along an eastern edge of the wetland, on a terrace between a cutbank into the meadow floor to the west, and Lost Creek to the east. Based on hydrologic, soil and botanical evidence, it appears likely the the three soppy-wet sites described above would qualify as fens. Photos: #s 355-364

15. Olive Lake area, 10-481 rd. (Upper Reservoir) Elevation: 6250 feet TRS: T9S, R34E, S22 Date: 8/28/2012 Rationale: A large wetland mapped as Ecoclass MM2911 (Carex pellita - woolly sedge). Plants: Graminoids - CAAQ, CAUT, CAEC, ELQU2, CASI2, CALU7, JUEN, CAJO, AGROS2 Forbs - PEGR2, EPILO, HYAN2, SPRO, SAOD2, PAFI3, DOJE, SANGU2, EQAR, ALVA, GENTI, TRIFO, POOC2, SWPE Shrubs - SAEA/SACO2 Bryophytes - DIPA20, PHFO6, BRPS70, AUPA70, CHPO14, BRWE70, RHIZO2, MAPO16, DRAD2, CAGI70, PACO47, HEBL2 Probes: Within three areas of persistent groundwater discharge along southern border of wetland, apparent organic layer locally ~48" thick or more. Organic layer sometimes with evident inclusion of fine-grained inorganic material. Organic layer often comprised of mixed density layers, but generally very dense and resistant to probe. Probes in upper (southern) half of wetland, outside of areas persistently wetted by groundwater, also detected generally rather thick organic layers of 35-49"; intermixing of fine- grained inorganic material seemingly generally present within these dense, resistant, organic layers. Elsewhere in upper half of wetland, probe stopped due to resistance (density) as shallowly as 10-14". Notes: This sedge-spikerush wetland has very low topographic relief, but appears to slope gently downward from south to north, and west to east, within ultimate drainage out of the system's NE corner. Most of this wetland appears to be best described as seasonally wet meadow with a persistent, relatively high water table, particularly in the upper (southern) half. Depth of the organic soil in the upper half of the wetland appears to be commonly 36" or greater. The only persistently soppy-wet, groundwater- wetted soils within the wetland occur at two adjacent sites at the southern edge of the wetland, and at one site along the wetland's SW edge. The sensitive species HEBL2 is present at each of these three sites. Each of these three sites is likely to qualify as fen. Photos: #s 365-385.

16. Upper Trout Meadows, east of 52 road Elevation: 5500 feet TRS: T7S, R35E, S12 Date: 8/29/2012

Rationale: Part of mid-elevation wetland system with only documented site of TONI70 on UMA National Forest. Plants: Graminoids - CAAQ, ELQU2, PHLEU, AGROS2, JUEN, CAEC, DECE, MUFI2 Forbs - POOC2, EPILO, SANGU2, TRLO, HYAN2, PEGR2, DODEC, ALVA, SAOR2 Shrubs - SAEA/ASCO2 Bryophytes - SPHAG2, PHFO6, MAPO16, AUPA70, BRPS70, PLEL2 METR70, TONI70 Probes: In southern wetland, greatest thickness of apparent organic soil detected 1) in lower NW portion of wetland with dominance of CAAQ and SPHAG2 = 24", 2) in small, short-statured plant community with presence of METR70 and TONI70 = 36". In northern wetland, greatest thickness of apparent organic soil detected within soppy groundwater-fed terrace = 36". Notes: For convenience, am here lumping two closely adjacent wetlands with similar size and topography; each have moderately steep slopes draining principally from east to west. The southern-most of these two wetlands appears to have persistent groundwater discharge creating soppy-wet soils in its lower NW quadrant. Surface flow generated by this discharge passes via culvert under the 52 road into upper Trout Meadows. This soppy-wet quadrant is dominated by CAAQ and SPHAG2. A small (10x2 m)short-statured plant community including METR70 and TONI70 occurs on damp soil (wets trouser knee in 3-5 seconds) in the generally drier upper portion of this wetland. The relative low moisture content of the near-surface soil at this METR70-TONI70 site is atypical. A 1/2 sq. m. patch of bare soil caused by hooves exists within this community. Based on hydrologic, soil and botanical evidence, it appears likely that as much as 1/3-1/2 of this southern wetland would qualify as fen. The adjacent, northern wetland is much drier (only seasonally wet) except for a very prominent small, semi-circular, soppy-wet groundwater-fed terrace in the upper NE corner. There is no persistent surface flow from this terrace. Photos: #s 386-388.

17. Upper Trout Meadows, main corridor. Elevation: 5500 feet TRS: T7S, R35E, S12 Date: 8/29/2012 Rationale: Part of mid-elevation wetland system with only documented site of TONI70 on UMA National Forest. Plants: Graminoids - CAAQ, ELQU2, CAUT, CALU7, CAEC, CASI2, JUEN, MUFI2, AGROS2 Forbs - SAOR2, DOJE, ALVA, SANGU2, POOC2, HYAN2, MIPR, PEGR2 Bryophytes - PHFO6, AUPA70, SPHAG2, MAPO16, METR70, HAVE70, HEBL2, TONI70 Probes: Soil probes were conducted at the five sites where "target" moss species were detected (values indicate thickest apparent organic layer detected per site): 1) 24" at HEBL2 site on wet, raised and gently sloping western edge of main meadow corridor, shortly NW of entry point to meadow at junction of 52 road and 685 spur; 2) 17" (very dense, resistant) at moist-soiled (finger tips stay dry upon pressing soil surface) TONI70 site along low volume creeklet (without a nearby groundwater source) shortly north of site #1; 3) 12" at HEBL2 site within tiny (radius of 4-5 m) groundwater discharge site on slopebreak near northern end of main corridor; 4) 31" at TONI70-HEBL2 site at variously damp-soppy wet groundwater discharge area on same slopebreak as site #3; 5) 52+" at TONI70-HEBL2 site on soppy-wet spring mound in center of corridor, due west of entry point to meadow at junction of 53 road and 685 spur. Notes: Two of the five sites described in "Probes" section above particularly stand out. First, at the time

29 of visit, soil moisture (what little there was) at site #2 appeared to be mostly provided by the water table in the small, adjacent creeklet. It is extremely rare to find TONI70 at sites where soil moisture is not primarily provided by groundwater. Second, site #4 is the only site visited in the course of this project where all three of the moss "holy triumvirate" of east flank Cascade rich fens (TONI70, METR70, HAVE70) were detected. Based on soil, hydrologic and botanical attributes, it's likely that portions or all of site #1 and #s 3-5 would qualify as fens. Photos: #s 389-407.

18. Upper Trout Meadows area, 52-715 rd. Elevation: 5500 feet TRS: T7S, 35E, S13 Date: 8/29/2012 Rationale: Closely proximate to a mid-elevation wetland system with only documented site of TONI70 on UMA National Forest. Plants: Graminoids - CAAQ, CAEC, ELQU2, JUEN Forbs - POOC2, HYAN2, PEGR2, SAOR2 Bryophytes - AUPA70, PHFO6, MAPO16, SPHAG2, PLEL2, HEBL2 Probes: At base of seepy slope occupied by HEBL2, evidence of intermixed fine-grained inorganics, but first obvious inorganic layer at 28". Notes: Site is a relatively steep, east-aspect, seepy slope forming the western edge of an N-S seasonal watercourse. Based on hydrologic, soil and botanical evidence, appears likely that this slope would qualify as a fen. A network of meadows shortly N of this slope were visited; none had any detected areas of damp or wet soil.

19. 5184 rd. (shortly north of Trout Meadows) Elevation: 5550 feet TRS: T7S, R35E, S2 Date: 8/30/2012 Rationale: Suggested by Mark Darrach due to wetness and/or presence of Sphagnum. Plants: Graminoids - CAAQ, ELQU2, CALU7, PHLEU, MUFI2, AGROS2, JUEN, CAEC Forbs - ALVA, PEGR2, SANGU2, DODEC, SAOR2, HYAN2, Shrubs - SAEA/SACO2 Bryophytes - RHIZO2, AUPA70, PHFO6, MAPO, CLDE70 Probes: Thickness of organic layer toward N and S ends of wetland = 24-25". Thickness of organic layer appears to increase toward center of meadow where as much as 52". Thickness of organic layer associated with short-statured community about midway along W edge of meadow = 24". Notes: There is much wet and soppy-wet soil within this wetland, but surrounding topography and botanical composition of the wetland edges (with the exception of a small, short-statured community midway along the W edge) do not especially suggest that discharging groundwater is the source of this wetness. The meadow appears to be very flat, and topographically, resembles an old lake bottom. Any minor seasonal water channels within the wetland went unnoticed. While a good number of plant species that frequent groundwater-fed peatlands are present here, it seems possible that this wetland's late season wetness is largely due to water from surface sources sitting statically atop some subsurface confining layer.

Photos: #s 408-409.

20. Meadow Creek east #1 (shortly north of Trout Meadows) Elevation: 5550 feet TRS: T7S, R35E, S2 Date: 8/30/2012 Rationale: Suggested by Mark Darrach due to wetness and/or presence of Sphagnum. Plants: Graminoids - +/-CAAQ (grazed), ELQU2, CALU7, MUFI2 Forbs – HYAN2, TRIFO Bryophytes - PHFO6, AUPA70, SPHAG2 Probe: Within small (4m radius) community likely dependent on seasonal groundwater discharge (but now with dry soil surface): soil very dense, resistant; thickness of organic layer at least 26"; first obvious inorganic layer at depth of 52". Notes: Located immediately S of 52 rd., +/- at 52/5184 junction. Small meadow slopes gently downward from S to N. Dry soil surfaces and botanical composition indicate mostly a seasonally wet meadow except for small patch of Sphagnum and associated plant species (see Plants section above) whose presence suggests support by seasonal groundwater discharge, even though soil surface at site is currently dry.

21. Meadow Creek east #2 (shortly north of Trout Meadows) Elevation: 5550 feet TRS: T7S, R35E, S2 Date: 8/30.2012 Rationale: Suggested by Mark Darrach due to wetness and/or presence of Sphagnum. Plants: Graminoids - CAUT, CAEC, DECE, PHLEU, CAAQ, JUEN, ERGR8 Forbs - SAOR2, DODEC, ALVA, HYAN2, SANGU2, Shrubs - SALIX Bryophytes - SPHAG2, RHIZO2, BRWE70, DRAD2, MAPO16, PHFO6, AUPA70, METR70, HAVE70, TONI70, HEBL2 Probes: Thickness of organic layer in abundant, generally soppy-wet CAUT-CAAQ/SPHAG2 community = 32-52+"; thickness of organic layer at the only two small, short-statured communities detected = 22-37". Notes: Wetland located immediately S of 52 road, shortly E of 52/5184 junction. Meadow slopes gently downward from S to N, and E to W. Much of meadow is occupied by a wet/soppy-wet CAUT- CAAQ/SPHAG2 community with low species diversity. Much of the plant diversity found in this wetland is associated with either 1) the less wet transitional zone between the upland PICO woods and the upper edge of the CAUT-CAAQ/SPHAG2 community along the upper E edge of the wetland or 2) the two smallish short-statured communities occurring in the upper SE portion of the wetland. Detections of ELQU2, HYAN2, PHFO6 and AUPA70 were almost entirely restricted to these two habitat types, and it was only in these two smallish short-statured communities that METR70, ERGR8, TONI70 and HEBL2 were detected. Soil surface at the lower edges of each of the short-statured communities was merely moist, providing suboptimal conditions for the portions of the METR70 and TONI70 populations occurring here. At the lowest margin of the larger of these two communities, hoof impacts have created a sizeable area of bare soil. No surface drainage from this wetland was detected at the time of the visit.

Hydrology, soils and botanical composition suggest that much of this wetland would qualify as fen. Photos: #s 410-419.

22. 5415-022 rd. Elevation: 5000 feet TRS: T3S, R32E, S27 Date: 9/10/2012 Rationale: Mapped in UMA National Forest SRI as a histosol. Plants: Graminoids - ALOPE, VEDU Forbs - MADIA Probes: none attempted. Notes: At time of visit, this was a bone-dry, presumably seasonally wet meadow, with hard, mineral soil. No evidence of the watercourse mapped in GIS. Photos: # 460.

23. Albee Meadow Elevation: 4900 feet TRS: T4S, R32E, S3 Date: 9/10/2012 Rationale: Mapped in UMA National Forest SRI as a histosol. Plants: Graminoids - JUEN, ELQU2 Forbs - PEGR2, HYAN2 Bryophytes - AUPA70, PHFO6, MAPO16, RHIZO2, BRPS70, SAUN8 Probes: First obvious inorganic surface 36-38" deep in quaking, soppy-wet soil in upper, southern arm of meadow system. Notes: This is appears to be primarily a seasonally wet meadow, with seasonal groundwater discharge along the southern edge of the lower E-W corridor. There appears to be groundwater of uneven subsurface depth moving along the length of the meadow corridor. It seems likely that the source of the corridor groundwater is simply aquifers associated with the adjacent forested slopes. At the time of this visit, it would appear that the surface (water table) of these aquifers was too low to be manifested as active discharge (wet soil) along the meadow edges, but did find a few discharge points, such as the patch of quaking soil in the upper southern arm, and at least two spring mounds, in the main, E-W corridor. ELQU2 and HYAN2 were detected only at these discharge points. These discharge points are likely to qualify as smallish fens.

24. Granite Meadows Elevation: 5000 feet TRS: T3S, R32E, S35/36 Date: 9/10/2012 Rationale: Mapped in UMA National Forest SRI as a histosol. Plants: Graminoids - CAUT, CAAQ, JUBA, ELQU2, JUEN Forbs - POOC2, HYAN2, EQAR, ALVA Bryophytes - AUPA70, PHFO6, BRPS70 Probes: Depth of apparent organic layer in one likely groundwater-associated mound (dry at surface at

32 time of visit) in mid-corridor of an upper arm = 48". Notes: With the exception of the presence of a small spring toward the head of one of the far-western arms, this appears to be almost exclusively a seasonally wet meadow system. The large NE arm and the small SW arm of this system were not visited. Weak (seasonal) groundwater discharge was apparent along portions of the W edge of the main N arm of the system. The upper portion of this arm also included the dry-surfaced mound noted above in the Probes section. It appears that there is, in general, seasonal groundwater discharge in this system, but that its surface typically drops too low in the course of the snow-free season to support the plant communities commonly associated with areas of persistent groundwater discharge.

25. 5824 road Elevation: 4900 feet TRS: T3S, R33E, S32 Date: 9/11/2012 Rationale: Mapped in UMA National Forest SRI as a histosol. Plants: Graminoids - JUBA, CAAQ, PHLEU, JUEN, CAUT, DECE Forbs - HYAN2, PEGR2, EQAR, DODEC, SPRO Bryophytes - PHFO6, AUPA70 Probes: none Notes: Entirely a seasonally wet meadow. Small area of seasonal groundwater-fed community on W side of channel in lower S portion of meadow.

26. 5427 rd., #1 Elevation: 4900 feet TRS: T3S, R33E, S32 Date: 9/11/2012 Rationale: Mapped in UMA National Forest SRI as a histosol. Plants: Graminoids - CAUT, CAAQ, DECE, ELQU2, JUEN, SCIRP Forbs - HYAN2, PEGR2, DODEC Bryophytes - MAPO16, RHIZO2, AUPA70, PHFO6, BRPS70, POWA70 Probes: Depth of organic layer (with apparent intermixed fine-grained inorganic component) in soppy- wet portions of upper lobe of meadow vary between 12-30". Notes: At time of visit, groundwater discharge occurring only along a portion of the W edge and in the NE corner of upper (N) lobe of meadow. Source of soil wetness, particularly along W edge of upper lobe not especially evident; soil, hydrology and botanical composition of two wet areas in upper lobe provide ambivalent support for suspecting that these sites would qualify as fens. Cattle hoof impacts in the two wet areas are intensive, and soil pedestals are prominent. Photos: #264

27. 5427 rd., #2 Elevation: 4900 feet TRS: T3S, R33E, S32 Date: 9/11/2012 Rationale: Mapped in UMA National Forest SRI as a histosol.

Plants: Graminoids - CAUT, CALU7, ELQU2, JUEN, DECE, CAAQ, SCIRP Forbs - HYAN2, DODEC, POOC2, SAOR2, PEGR2, EQAR Bryophytes - PHFO6, AUPA70, METR70, DRAD2, TONI70 Probes: Depth of organic layer within TONI70 population = 12-30", except at edges of two raised spring wells where depth ranged from 37-52+". Notes: Most of this meadow appears to be only seasonally wet. However, a persistently wet groundwater discharge area occurs at the far upper (N) end of meadow, where it is associated with a relatively prominent slopebreak. Hydrology, soil (where depth of organic layer is sufficient) and botanical composition suggest that this discharge area would qualify as a fen. This area is occupied by a large (10x80m) TONI70 population which generally occurs on soppy-wet peat. The biomass of TONI70 at this site is many times that, collectively, documented in and near upper Trout Meadows, the only other currently documented location of this moss on UMA National Forest. Both cattle and elk visit this fen, but the impact of their hooves and waste appears to be low to moderate. Soil made bare by the impact of hooves appears to average <5%. A small, low-volume creeklet carries water from the fen to the far southern end of the meadow and into the woods beyond. Sapling trees (mostly PICO) within and adjacent to the fen have recently been cut and piled. It appears that perhaps 10 of these piles have been placed atop TONI70 or its habitat. Photos: #s 265-269.

28. 5428-050 rd. Elevation: 4800 feet TRS: T4S, R33E, S4 Date: 9/11/2012 Rationale: Mapped in UMA National Forest SRI as a histosol. Plants: Graminoids - VEDU, JUEN Forbs - MADIA, ALVA Bryophytes - PHFO6, AUPA70 Probes: none Notes: This is a seasonally wet meadow with no sites of groundwater discharge at the time of visit. Soil is bone-dry and hard.

29. 54-200 rd. Elevation: 4700 feet TRS: T4S, R33E, S10 Date: 9/11/2012 Rationale: Mapped in UMA National Forest SRI as a histosol. Plants: Graminoids - JUBA, SCIRP, JUEN, CAUT Forbs - EQUIS, PEGR2, POOC2, DOJE, HYAN2 Bryophytes - BRPS70, RHIZO2, AUPA70, MAPO16, CLDE70, CAGI70 Probes: At only persistent groundwater discharge area detected, thickness of organic layer (with perhaps some intermixed fine-grained inorganics) = 25-27". Notes: Walked full length of mapped histosol poly (~ 1 mile). System appears to be a seasonally wet, terraced, riparian corridor with little evidence of even seasonal groundwater discharge. One area of persistent groundwater discharge was detected along the upper edge of the riparian terrace (at slopebreak)

34 very shortly down-channel (S) of the point where the 54-200 rd. crosses the channel. Structurally, the community at this site has a mid-height, sedgey appearance. Failure to detect PHFO6 and ELQU2 within the associated plant community was notable, as was the uncontested dominance within the bryophyte community of CLDE70. Hydrology, soils and with some ambivalence, botanical composition, indicate that this site has the potential to qualify as a fen.

30. French Corral Meadow Elevation: 4700 feet TRS: T4S, R33E, S11/12/13 Date: 9/11/2012 Rationale: Mapped in UMA National Forest SRI as a histosol. Plants: Graminoids - CAUT, CAEC, MUFI2, JUEN, SCIRP Forbs - PEGR2, HYAN2, DOJE, POOC2, SPRO Bryophytes - BRPS70, RHIZO2, AUPA70, BRWE70, PHFO6, METR70 Probes: Within METR70 population, apparent thickness of organic layer = 30". Notes: The area within mapped histosol polygon appears to be seasonally wet meadow, with the upper (W) end being the seasonally wettest portion. A channel with groundwater-fed, low-volume flow emerges from the woods on the western end of the meadow but becomes dry at about 1/3 the length of the meadow. A smallish green patch (aerial imagery) about 300 m NW of the W end of the target meadow, noted in aerial imagery, was visited. The site is a virtually flat, ellipsoid (long axis NW-SE) wetland, whose lateral NE 1/2 is dominated by tall CAUT, and whose SW 1/2 is occupied by a METR70- dominated short-statured community. The taxa included in the Plants section above, represent this wetland. Notable features of the short-statured community, which seems to amply qualify as a fen, include: 1) Structurally, this community is essentially a moss carpet (not unusual for short-statured communities) absolutely dominated by METR70 (very unusual); 2) where METR70 occurs, TONI70 virtually always co-occurs, however, it was not detected within this community; 3) ELQU2 "should" have been a co-dominant with METR70 in this community, yet it was not detected. Perhaps the overarching puzzle concerns the hydrology that supports this wetland. Nowhere adjacent to this wetland is there evidence of toeslope/slopebreak/meadow-forest interface surface discharge of groundwater. Hence, it appears that the wetness of this system is confined to the space below the meadow surface. It seems likely that the aquifer wetting this wetland is continuous with that generating surface flow into French Corral Meadow shortly to the SE. There appears to be seasonal drainage from this wetland to French Corral Meadow, but that watercourse was dry until immediately NW of the Meadow. It appears that only elk and deer are visiting/using the CAUT-METR70 wetland.

Walla Walla Ranger District

31. 3719 rd., #1 Elevation: 4900 feet TRS: T3N, R38E, S5 Date: 9/13/2012 Rationale: Mapped as Ecoclass MW (wet meadow). Plants: Graminoids - CAJO, CASCB, DECE, ELQU2, CAAQ Forbs - MIPR, HYAN2, VERAT, PEGR2, SPRO

Shrubs - Salix Bryophytes - SPHAG2, AUPA70, PHFO6, BRPS70, FONTI Probes: Apparent depth of organic layer in relatively lower-statured community at about mid-meadow (soil surface moist/damp) = 26" (very resistant). Notes: This appears to be a seasonally wet meadow. Lower (S) 1/2 of meadow largely a tall sedge-grass community on soil with a moist surface. Upper 1/2 of meadow is lower-statured, with higher species diversity. Soil surface is generally moist, with scattered damp spots (neither wet trouser knee nor wet fingertips). Species list presented in Plants section above represents the upper half of this meadow. Meadow has very low gradient; no seepy edges were detected.

32. 3719 rd., #2 Elevation: 4900 feet TRS: T3N, R38E, S5 Date: 9/13/2012 Rationale: Promising aerial imagery and within easy walking distance of 3719 rd., #1. Plants: Graminoids - CAUT, ELQU2 Forbs - SPRO, PEGR2, MIPR, EQAR, POTEN Shrubs - SALIX, ALNUS Bryophytes - SPHAG2, SPSQ70, AUPA70, BRWE70, MAPO16 Probes: Thickness organic layer at mid-length of meadow, near upper (W) edge = 52+". Notes: This is the most physically uniform, mid-sized, slopebreak wetland visited during this project. The main body of this wetland is nearly complete, deep, soft, soppy-wet cover of SPHAG2, with POTEN being well represented also. Hydrology and soil strongly indicate that this wetland qualifies as a fen. Photos: #s 474-478.

33. 6234 rd. Elevation = 4200 feet TRS: T4N, R40E, S26 Date: 9/13/2012 Rationale: Mapped as Ecoclass MW (wet meadow). Plants: Graminoids - CAUT Bryophytes- AUPA70, SAUN8 Probes: none Notes: The meadows included with the mapped MW polygon were dry at the time of visit, with no evidence of even seasonal groundwater discharge to be found. Grass cover is higher than that of sedge. A small meadow is situated shortly NE of the SE end of the MW polygon. This meadow occupies a topographic depression, with no drainage outlet. It features a bit of a pond near its southern edge, and thick dry/moist mats of AUPA70 and SAUN8.

34. 64-151 rd. Elevation: 4900 feet TRS: T4N, R38E, S13 Date: 9/14/2012 Rationale: Mapped as Ecoclass MW (wet meadow).

Plants: Graminoids - ELQU2, DECE, CAAQ, JUEN, CACA4, MUFI2, AGROS2, CAUT Forbs - PEGR2, SPRO, EQAR, VIOLA, MIPR, ASTER, VERAT Shrubs - SALIX Bryophytes - SPHAG2, AUPA70, PHFO6, BRPS70, MAPO16, PLEL2, DRAD2, CAST70 Probes: Apparent thickness of organic layer in 1) wet-soiled CAUT community in east-central portion of meadow = 52+"; 2) in soppy-wet CAAQ community at far N end of meadow = 44"; 3) on soppy-wet CACA4-dominated mound in NW corner of meadow = 36"; 4) on soppy-wet groundwater discharge area along lower W edge of meadow = 36-46". Notes: A large meadow that slopes gently downward from N to S. More damp/wet soil in upper half than lower half. Only two sites within meadow where apparent persistent groundwater discharge occurring. One of these is a large soppy-wet mound in far upper NW corner of meadow, adjacent to the bordering PIEN-PICO woods. This mound topography seems to be virtually always produced by persistent groundwater discharge. Unexpectedly, this mound is dominated by CACA4 and VERAT is present as well. These are not taxa generally associated with sites of persistent groundwater discharge. Further investigation at the site allowed detection of a graminoid-overgrown springbrook/creek channel discharging into the mound at the woods/meadow interface. Water depth in channel near discharge point = 18-24". Creek is clearly groundwater-fed, but after following its meandering course NW into woods for about 75 m, gave up search for its origin. This mound constitutes a unique biophysical feature in the experience of the project lead. A thin sheet of surface water originates at the E base of this mound and moves in a southward-bending arc for about 100m, creating soppy-wet soils all along its path. The second site where apparent persistent groundwater discharge occurs is along the W edge of the meadow, perhaps 2/3s the distance to the meadow's S end. The initial discharge site is associated with a bit of topographic rise/mound that can be seen from mid-meadow. This is unambiguously a persistent groundwater discharge site; there is no surface water entering from the adjacent woods. Downslope to the SE of the discharge site, visually contrasting CAAQ and ELQU2 stands have sorted themselves, presumably with regard to soil moisture levels. SPHAG2 is the dominant ground cover over much of the area initially wetted by groundwater discharge. This largish area of groundwater discharge appears to amply qualify as a fen. Photos: #s 479-486.

Appendix B

Mean number FRT (fen reference taxa) and mean OST (organic soil layer thickness) per fen candidate site by site category. **: “Yes” in this field requires both OST >/= 16” and site inclusion in either Category C or D (persistent groundwater discharge evident). A. No evidence of groundwater discharge Portions (at least) Organic Soil likely to # Thickness qualify as Site FRT (OST) fen? 5415-022 rd. 0 +/- 0 No 5428-050 rd. 0 +/- 0 No 6234 rd. 0 +/- 0 No FRT mean = 0 Mean OST = +/- 0 B. Seasonal groundwater discharge sites evident

Vinegar Hill area, 10S, 34E, S3, #1 5 refusal (+/-) No Olive Lake area, 10 rd. 4 20"* No OLive Lake area, 10-500 rd. 8 12" (35") No 5184 rd.(shortly north of Trout Meadows) 10 24-25" (52") No Meadow Ck. #1 (shortly north of Trout Meadows) 3 26" (52") No

Granite Meadows 4 48" No 5824 rd. 6 indeterminate No 3719 rd., #1 7 26" No FRT mean = 5.9 Mean OST = 38.9" C. Sites of persistent groundwater discharge present

Vinegar Hill area, 10S, 34E, S3, #2 6 32-52+" Yes

Vinegar Hill area, 10S, 34E, S2, #1 10 24-52+"* Yes

Vinegar Hill area, 10S, 34E, S2, #2 7 24-52+"* Yes Vinegar Hill area, upper Salmon Ck. 10 12-28"* Yes

Portions (at least) Organic Soil likely to # Thickness qualify as Site FRT (OST) fen?

Vinegar Hill area, upper East Fork Clear Creek 3 6"* No Olive Lake area, 10-426 rd. 9 24-36" Yes Olive Lake area, 10-420 rd., #1 6 27"* Yes Albee Meadow 4 36-38" Yes 5427 rd., #1 6 12-30"* Yes 54-200 rd. 4 25-27"* Yes French Corral Meadow 7 30" Yes 3719 rd., #2 4 52+" Yes 64-151 rd. 9 36-52+" Yes FRT mean = 6.5 Mean OST = 37.1" D. Sites of persistent groundwater discharge and one or more sensitive species present Olive Lake area, 10-302 rd. 8 47" Yes Olive Lake area, 10-520 rd. 9 30" Yes Olive Lake area, 10-420 rd., #2 10 25-52+" Yes Olive Lake area, Lost Creek 13 52+" Yes Olive Lake area, Upper Reservoir 16 48+" Yes upper Trout Meadows, east of 52 rd. 12 36" Yes upper Trout Meadows, main corridor 15 12-31" (52+") Yes upper Trout Meadows area, 52-715 rd. 8 28"* Yes Meadow Ck. #2 (shortly north of Trout Meadows) 12 22-52+" Yes 5427 rd., #2 11 12-30" (52+") Yes FRT mean = 11.4 Mean OST = 40.6"

Appendix C

Plant taxa noted during visits to project fen candidate sites. Yellow highlighting = Fen Reference Taxa previously used by project lead; green highlighting = additional FRT candidates for Umatilla National Forest. “NRCS WIS” = Natural Resources Conservation Service – Wetland Indicator Status. WIS for bryophytes has not yet been determined.

Code Scientific Name NRCS WIS Graminoids

AGROS2 Agrostis CAAQ Carex aquatica OBL CACA4 Calamagrostis canadensis FACW+ CAEC Carex echinata NI CAJO Carex jonesii FACW+ CALU7 Carex luzulina OBL CAPE42 Carex pellita OBL CAREX Carex CASA10 Carex saxatilis FACW+ CASCB Carex scopulorum var. bracteosa FACW CASI2 Carex simulata OBL CAUT Carex utriculata ? DECE Deschampsia cespitosa FACW ELQU2 Eleocharis quinqueflora OBL ERGR8 Eriophorum gracile OBL HOBR2 Hordeum brachyantherum FACW‐ JUBA Juncus balticus FACW+ JUEN Juncus ensifolius FACW JUME3 Juncus mertensianus OBL JUNCU Juncus MUFI2 Muhlenbergia filiformis FACW‐ PHLEU Phleum SCIRP Scirpus

Forbs

ALVA Allium validum OBL ARNIC Arnica ASFO Aster foliaceus FACW‐ ASTER Aster DELPH Delphinium DODEC Dodecatheon

DOJE Dodecatheon jeffreyi FACW+ EPILO Epilolobium EQAR Equisetum arvense FAC GENTI Gentiana HYAN2 Hypericum anagalloides OBL MIPR Mimulus primuloides FACW+ PAFI3 Parnassia fimbriata OBL PEGR2 Pedicularis groenlandica OBL PLATA2 Platanthera PLDI3 Platanthera dilatata FACW+ PLST4 Platanthera stricta FACW+ POBI6 Polygonum bistortoides FACW POOC2 Polemonium occidentale FACW POTEN Potentilla RAAL Ranunculus alismifolius FACW SANGU2 Sanguisorba SAOD2 Saxifraga odontoloma FACW+ SAOR2 Saxifraga oregana FACW+ SETR Senecio triangularis FACW+ SPRO Spiranthes romanzoffiana FACW SWPE Swerta perennis FACW TRIFO Trifolium VERAT Veratrum VIOLA Viola

Shrubs

SAEA/SACO2 Salix eastwoodiae/Salix commutata FACW/OBL VACCI Vaccinium BEGL Betula glandulosa OBL ALNUS Alnus SALIX Salix

Bryophytes

AUPA70 Aulacomnium palustre BRPS70 Bryum pseudotriquetrum BRWE70 Bryum weigelii CAGI70 Calliergon giganteum CALYP6 Calypogeia CAST70 Calliergon stramineum CHPO14 Chiloscyphus polyanthos

CLDE70 Climacium dendroides DIPA20 Dicranella palustris DRAD2 Drepanocladus aduncus DREPA3 Drepanocladus FONTI Fontinalis HAVE70 Hamatocaulis vernicosus HEBL2 Helodium blandowii HYOC5 Hygrohypnum ochraceum LOGI3 Lophozia gillmanii LOPHO9 Lophozia MAPO16 Marchantia polymorpha METR70 Meesia triquetra PACO47 Palustriella commutata PELLI Pellia PHFO6 Philonotis fontana PLEL2 Plagiomnium ellipticum POWA70 Pohlia wahlenbergii RHIZO2 Rhizomnium SAUN8 Sanionia uncinata SCAPA Scapania SPHAG2 Sphagnum SPSQ70 Sphagnum squarrosum TONI70 Tomentypnum nitens WAEX Warnstorfia exannulata

Appendix D

Fen reference taxa detected at project fen candidate sites. Asterisk denotes taxa proposed as additional fen reference taxa for Umatilla National Forest.

Vinegar Vinegar Hill Vinegar Hill Vinegar Hill Hill area, area, 10S, area, 10S, area, 10S, 10S, 34E, Graminoids 34E, S3, #1 34E, S3, #2 34E, S2, #1 S2, #2 CAAQ CAEC CAJO CALU7* X CASI2 ELQU2 X X X ERGR8/ ERIOP JUEN X Forbs DOJE/ DODEC X X X X HYAN2 X MIPR X X X X PAFI3* PEGR2 X X X X PLDI3/ PLATA2 X X SAOD2* X X X SAOR2 SPRO X X Shrubs SAEA/ SACO2* X X X BEGL Mosses CAST70* DRAD2 HAVE70 HEBL2 METR70 PLEL2 TONI70 TOTAL 5 6 10 7

Appendix D (cont.)

Vinegar Hill Olive Vinegar Hill area, upper Olive Lake Lake area, upper East Fork area, 10-302 Olive Lake area, 10- Salmon Ck. Clear Creek rd. area, 10 rd. 500 rd. CAAQ X X X X CAEC X CAJO CALU7* X X X CASI2 ELQU2 X X X X ERGR8/ ERIOP JUEN X X

DOJE/ DODEC X X X X HYAN2 X X X MIPR X PAFI3* X X PEGR2 X X X X PLDI3/ PLATA2 X X SAOD2* X SAOR2 SPRO

SAEA/ SACO2* BEGL X

CAST70* DRAD2 HAVE70 HEBL2 X METR70 PLEL2 TONI70 TOTAL 10 3 8 4 8

Appendix D (cont.)

Olive Lake Olive Lake Olive Lake Olive Lake Olive Lake area, 10- area, 10-426 area, 10-420 area, 10- area, Lost 520 rd. rd. rd., #1 420 rd., #2 Creek CAAQ X X X X X CAEC X CAJO CALU7* X X X X X CASI2 ELQU2 X X X X ERGR8/ ERIOP JUEN X X X X X

DOJE/ DODEC X X X X HYAN2 X X X MIPR PAFI3* X PEGR2 X X X X PLDI3/ PLATA2 X X X SAOD2* X X X SAOR2 SPRO X X

SAEA/ SACO2* X BEGL

CAST70* DRAD2 X X HAVE70 HEBL2 X X X METR70 PLEL2 X TONI70 TOTAL 9 9 6 10 13

Appendix D (cont.)

Olive Lake upper Trout 5184 area, upper Trout upper Trout Meadows rd.(shortly Upper Meadows, Meadows, area, 52-715 north of Trout Reservoir east of 52 rd. main corridor rd. Meadows) CAAQ X X X X X CAEC X X X X X CAJO X CALU7* X X X CASI2 X X ELQU2 X X X X X ERGR8/ ERIOP JUEN X X X X X

DOJE/ DODEC X X X X HYAN2 X X X X X MIPR X PAFI3* X PEGR2 X X X X X PLDI3/ PLATA2 SAOD2* X SAOR2 X X X X SPRO X

SAEA/ SACO2* X X X BEGL

CAST70* DRAD2 X HAVE70 X HEBL2 X X X METR70 X X PLEL2 X TONI70 X X TOTAL 16 12 15 8 10

Appendix D (cont.)

Meadow Ck. Meadow Ck. #1 (shortly #2 (shortly north of Trout north of Trout 5415-022 Albee Granite 5824 Meadows) Meadows) rd. Meadow Meadows rd. CAAQ X X X CAEC X CAJO CALU7* X CASI2 ELQU2 X X X ERGR8/ ERIOP X JUEN X X X X

DOJE/ DODEC X X HYAN2 X X X X X MIPR PAFI3* PEGR2 X X PLDI3/ PLATA2 SAOD2* SAOR2 X SPRO X

SAEA/ SACO2* BEGL

CAST70* DRAD2 X HAVE70 X HEBL2 X METR70 X PLEL2 TONI70 X TOTAL 3 12 0 4 4 6

Appendix D (cont.)

French 5427 rd., 5427 rd., 5428-050 54-200 Corral 3719 rd., #1 #2 rd. rd. Meadow #1 CAAQ X X X CAEC X CAJO X CALU7* X CASI2 ELQU2 X X X ERGR8/ ERIOP JUEN X X X X

DOJE/ DODEC X X X X HYAN2 X X X X X MIPR X PAFI3* PEGR2 X X X X X PLDI3/ PLATA2 SAOD2* SAOR2 X SPRO X X

SAEA/ SACO2* BEGL

CAST70* DRAD2 X HAVE70 HEBL2 METR70 X X PLEL2 TONI70 X TOTAL 6 11 0 4 7 7

Appendix D (cont.)

3719 rd., 6234 64-151 #2 rd. rd. CAAQ X CAEC CAJO CALU7* CASI2 ELQU2 X X ERGR8/ ERIOP JUEN X

DOJE/ DODEC HYAN2 MIPR X X PAFI3* PEGR2 X X PLDI3/ PLATA2 SAOD2* SAOR2 SPRO X X

SAEA/ SACO2* BEGL

CAST70* X DRAD2 X HAVE70 HEBL2 METR70 PLEL2 X TONI70 TOTAL 4 0 9

Appendix E

Fen candidate sites ranked according to numbers of Fen Reference Taxa detected at each.

Site Site # FRT Category

Olive Lake area, Upper Reservoir 16 D Upper Trout Meadows, main corridor 15 D Olive Lake area, Lost Creek 13 D

upper Trout Meadows, east of 52 rd. 12 D

Meadow Ck. #2 (shortly north of Trout Meadows) 12 D 5427 rd., #2 11 D

5184 rd.(shortly north of Trout Meadows) 10 B Vinegar Hill area, 10S, 34E, S2, #1 10 C Vinegar Hill area, upper Salmon Ck. 10 C Olive Lake area, 10-420 rd., #2 10 D

Olive Lake area, 10-426 rd. 9 C 64-151 rd. 9 C

Olive Lake area, 10-520 rd. 9 D

Olive Lake area, 10-500 rd. 8 B

Olive Lake area, 10-302 rd. 8 D

upper Trout Meadows area, 52-715 rd. 8 D 3719 rd., #1 7 B Vinegar Hill area, 10S, 34E, S2, #2 7 C

French Corral Meadow 7 C 5824 rd. 6 B Vinegar Hill area, 10S, 34E, S3, #2 6 C Olive Lake area, 10-420 rd., #1 6 C 5427 rd., #1 6 C Vinegar Hill area, 10S, 34E, S3, #1 5 B

Olive Lake area, 10 rd. 4 B

Albee Meadow 4 C Granite Meadows 4 B 54-200 rd. 4 C 3719 rd., #2 4 C

Meadow Ck. #1 (shortly north of Trout Meadows) 3 B Vinegar Hill area, upper East Fork Clear Creek 3 C 5415-022 rd. 0 A 5428-050 rd. 0 A 6234 rd. 0 A

Appendix F

Location of 34 Umatilla National Forest fen candidate sites visited during course of this project.